News Outlets Examine Potential Impacts Of U.S. Cuts To Funding For UNFPA, Other International Organizations; Administration Signals No Action ‘At This Time’

Jan 30, 2017

Devex: Why Trump’s draft executive order to slash U.N. funding should be treated seriously, though with caution
“A U.S. presidential executive order targeting the United Nations and other international organizations could inflict a major blow to global development and humanitarian operations, slashing American funding by at least 40 percent. But the full extent of the draft measure’s potential harm — for now, at least — remains difficult to gauge, experts say. The order began circulating Wednesday in various media outlets and quickly spread, even as it remained in draft form. It calls for a conditional review of U.S. foreign funding, including a ‘special review of funding’ for the U.N. Population Fund and development aid that ‘oppose, more than support, policies across the United Nations’…” (Lieberman, 1/27).

The Guardian: Trump policy changes would leave lives of millions in balance, agencies warn
“…The U.N. Population Fund and Save the Children are among international organizations braced for Trump to sign leaked executive orders that would have a major impact on funding to the U.N. and support for U.S. refugee resettlement programs. One of the leaked orders directly targets any U.N. agency involved in programs that support or fund abortion as a method of family planning. The UNFPA does not directly support or fund abortion, but does take the view that it should be safe in states where it is legal. The organization estimates that the loss of funding for even one year would prevent the delivery of sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence services to nine million people in humanitarian settings…” (Hodal, 1/27).

Reuters: No U.S. review of treaties, U.N. funding at this time: admin official
“The Trump administration will not issue executive orders calling for a review of international treaties and U.S. funding of the United Nations and other international bodies ‘at this time,’ a senior U.S. administration official said on Friday. The Trump administration was preparing executive orders that would review U.S. funding of the United Nations and other international organizations and certain forms of multilateral treaties, the New York Times reported on Wednesday…” (Wroughton/Nichols, 1/27).